Noah Johnson escapes a tackle and sprints down the sideline.

Blue Earth Area opened the State football playoffs with a quarterfinal contest against the defending Class AA champion Chatfield Gophers on Thursday, Nov. 10, at Rochester Mayo High School in Rochester.

The Gophers looked poised to make another run at the State title with a 35-6 victory to bring the Bucs’ season to an end.

“There is a reason they’re ranked No. 1 in the State,”

BEA head coach Randy Kuechenmeister said. “They are athletic and they played fast and they are physical.”

Chatfield set the tone on their opening drive.

Starting on their own 36-yard line, they used four consecutive running plays to advance the ball to the BEA 29-yard line before their quarterback, Sam Backer found receiver Drew O’Connor open for a touchdown.

The Gophers set up to kick the extra point but faked the kick and completed a pass for a 2-point conversion and an 8-0 lead less than three minutes into the game.

The Bucs returned the ensuing kickoff to their own 38-yard line. Using an effective passing game, the Maroon and Gold began marching the ball down the field.

However, a holding penalty and quarterback sack left them facing a third down situation needing 30 yards for a first down.

Lloyd dropped back and threw the ball to Jack Norman who leaped into the air and came down with the ball for a first down at the three-yard line.

Unfortunately, BEA was unable to punch the ball into the end zone and Chatfield took over on downs at their own five-yard line.

Two plays later it appeared the Gophers might be scoring again on a long run, but BEA linebacker Nick Nelson was able to swat the ball loose from the Gophers’ running back and his teammate Gage Barker recovered the ball at the Bucs’ 38-yard line.

BEA’s next drive stalled and Chatfield began moving the ball again, but another fumble, which was once again recovered by Barker, gave the Bucs the ball again.

Chatfield’s defense held and forced BEA to punt again.

A long punt return put the Gophers in business at the Bucs’ 23-yard line.

One play later, Backer connected with Gopher receiver Cole Johnson who jumped high into the air to pull down an incredible one-handed catch for Chatfield’s second touchdown of the game with 4:35 remaining in the first half. The extra-point failed and the Gophers held a 14-0 lead.

Parker Meyers returned the ensuing kickoff into Chatfield territory at the 45-yard line.

Passes to Norman, Abe Kokos and Soren Fering moved the ball to the 19-yard line.

A 12-yard run by Lloyd set up a first and goal situation at the seven-yard line, but once again the Gophers’ defense kept the Bucs out of the end zone.

“We had a couple of opportunities in the first half and we just couldn’t get the ball into the end zone,” Kuechenmeister said. “They deserve credit. They are a good football team.”

The Gophers scored twice in the third quarter and once in the fourth before the Bucs got on the board with 5:25 remaining in the game with Lloyd running the ball for a 12-yard touchdown.

BEA had 293 yards of total offense while Chatfield had 491.

Most of the Bucs’ success was through the air where they gained 248 yards. They finished with 45 yards rushing.

“We threw the ball more than we wanted to,” Kuechenmeister commented. “They were able to force us to do things we didn’t want to do.”

Lloyd completed 24 passes on 37 attempts for 248 yards.

Norman had nine receptions for 135 yards, Meyers had six catches for 28 yards and Kokos finished with four receptions for 19 yards.

Lloyd was the leading rusher with 35 yards on 19 carries.

Meyers led the defense with 10 tackles, Kade Gaydon had eight and Austin Stauffer had seven.

In addition to his two fumble recoveries, Barker also had an interception.

“I’m proud of these guys,” Kuechenmeister said. “They have been good to work with and they had a good season.”

BEA finishes their season with an overall record of 9-3.

Chatfield improves to 11-0 and will face Eden Valley-Watkins in the State semifinals on Friday, Nov. 18, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.